Sole-inking device



(No Model.)

G. K. BRADIE'QRD.-A

SOLE INKING- DEVICE.

Athe top of the reservoir,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cHAELEs K. BRADFORD, oF LYNNFIELD, MAssAcHUsErrs.

SOLE-INKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345.666, dated July' 20,1886.

Application tiled October 3l, 1885. Serial No. 181,460. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

' Be it known that LGHARLEs E. BRADFORD, of Lynnfield, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Sole-Inking Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved device for inking the edges of boot and shoe soles preparatory to polishing said edges by a burnishing-tool. l

The invention consists in the combination of a reservoir or holder,provided with a brush or distributer which receives ink from thereservoir, a `spring-closed valve controlling the dow of the ink from the reservoir to the brush, and an opening-lever for said valve projecting downwardly from the upper end of the reservoir, near the side thereof, so that it can be readily operated by aiinger of the hand holding the reservoir, the arrangement being such that the operator holding the reservoir in one hand can, with the same hand open the valve while movingthe brush over the surface to be blacked, and thus regulate the supply of ink. A

The invention also consists in the combination, with the brush, of a guard formed to prevent the ink from reaching the upper of the boot vor shoe.

The invention also consists in certain details, all of which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying4 drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents ari-elevation of my improved blackingdistributer. Fig. 2 represents a section on line m x, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a view of the lower portion of one side. Fig. 4 represents a side view 'of the lower portion of the opposite side. Fig. 5 represents a side view of the lower portion of the distributer, showing a different form of brush or inkspreader. Fig. 6 represents an edge view of the part shown in-Fig. 5.

The same letters of reference ,indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, a represents a reservoir of convenient form to be held in the hand. At the lower end of the reservoir is an outlet or passage, b, which is normally ,closed by a valve, c, the stem d of which passes through and is provided with a spring, e, which presses the valve against the, upper end of the passage b. To thelower end of the outlet-passage is attached an inkspreading device, which may be a brush, f', as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or a strip, f', of rubber or other suitable yielding material, as shown in Figs.`5 and 6. Said spreader com-- municates with lthe passage b, so as to receive ink therefrom, the brush f being secured to a collar, g, which is screwed upon the lower end of said passage, and is perforated to allow the ink to flow from the passage into the brush, while the yielding strip f is provided. with one or more perforations communicating with said passage b, the lnk liowing through said perforations upon the outer surface of the strip.

j represents a bent lever,bearing at one end against a collar, d', on the stem d, and extending downwardly in such proximity to the reservoir that the operator can move it by one finger of the hand that holds the reservoir. An inward pressure on the downwardly-.projecting end of said lever will lift its otherrend and thus cause it to open the valve c, the spring e closing the valve when said pressure is removed. Slots m m are formed in the top of the reservoir to receive and prevent the lateral displacement of the lever, the cover of the reservoir constituting a fulcrurn on which the lever rocks. The lever is here shown as composed of a wire rod, bent so as to pass around the valve-stem, so that it is held in place jointly by said stem and by the slots m m in the top of the reservoir, no pivot orxother connection beingrequired. It is obvious, however, that the lever may be of any other suitable form, and may be pivoted to the reservoir,if desired.

o represents a guard attached to the reservoir, and projecting downwardlybeyond one' edge of t-he brush or spreader, so as to enter the crease between the upper and sole of a boot or shoe, as shown in Fig. 1, and prevent the brush from applying the ink to the upper. Said guard is preferably adjustable, so that it can be caused to project to any desired distance beyond the brush or spreader, and can be adj usted to compensate for wear of the brush.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the guard is adapted to slide in guides r r attached to the reservoir, and is held at any desired point by a spring-arm, s, having a ter either one of a guard.

Figs. and 6 show the guard held against the side of the passage b by a clamping-screw, o, working in a frame, w, attached to the pas sage. By loosening said screw the guard may be adjusted as desired.

a represents a plate attached to the reservoir,and formed to bear against the side of the brush and colnpress the latter, as shown in Fig. l, thus keeping the brush in compact form. Said plate is preferably adapted to slide between guides bb/ on the casing for purposes of adjustment. Vhen the strip f of yielding material is used as a spreader, the passage or outlet b is preferably somewhat attened,and is somewhat curved at its lower end, as shown in Fig. 5, and the strip is secured to it preferably byawire 0r other binder` o', passed around the outlet and the ends of the strip.

It will beseen that the described device is simple in construction and enables the operator to conveniently apply and regulate the ink.

It is obvious that the details of' construction may be variously modified without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claiml. A device for inking the edges of boot and shoe soles7 and adapted to be carried and controlled by one hand of the operator,eonsisting of areservoirof elongated forni,provided with a distributer at its lower end, and having an internal spring closed valve, a stem secured to said valve and extending upward therefrom through the upper end of the reservoir, and a pin, adapted to en series of orifices, a, in the l l l l lever engaging the upper end of said stein for operating the valve, as set forth.

2. A device for inking the edges of boot and shoe soles, and adapted to be carried and controlled by one hand of the operator, consisting of a reservoir of elongated form, provided with a distributer at its lower end,and having an internal spring-closed valve, a stem secured to said valve and extending upward therefrom through the upper end of the reservoir, and a lever composed of a wire rod engaging the upper end of said stem by being so bent as to pass therearound, said lever being also bent over the top of proximity to the reservoir that the operator can move it by one linger of the hand that holds the reservoir, as set forth.

3. The ink-reservoir having the spreader, the internal spring-closed valve, and the bent external lever adapted to oseillate on the reservoir, and engaged at one end with. the stem of the valve, as set forth.

4. The con1bination,\vith the reservoir having the perforated lower end or outlet, of the strip f', of rubber or other yielding material, suitably secured thereto, having an extended at face or surface, and provided with perforations extending through said strip and communicating with said tirst-n1entioned perforations and said face or su rface, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specicatiomin the presence oftWo subscribing witnesses,this 28th day of September, 1885.

CHAS. K. BRADFORD.

Vitnesses:

C. F. BROWN, H. BROWN.

and downwardly in 

